Extension-step for railroad-cars.



PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

E. SIROIS.

EXTENSION STEP FOR RAILROAD CARS.

APILIGATIDN FILED MAY 3. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

ELY/r0119.

Witness No. 772,839. PATENTED OCT. 18,1904.

. B. SIROIS. EXTENSION STEP FOR RAILROAD CARS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3.11904.

, N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. construction.

shown in rear elevation.

UNITED STATES Patented. October 18, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EUOHARISTE SIROIS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

EXTENSION-STEP FOR RAILROAD-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,839, dated October 18, 1904. Application filed May a, 1904. Serial No. 206,227. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUOI-IARISTE SIRoIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Extension-Steps for Railroad-Cars,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an extension-step for railroad-cars, the object of which is to provide a mechanism easily and quickly operated for increasing by one the number of steps at the side of a car-platform, whereby passengers may enter and leave railroad-cars without being compelled to take the unusually high step or use the foot-stool now so common.

To this end my invention consists of an auxiliary step adapted to be held when not in use against the under side of the lowest step, but when called for it can be quickly and easily dropped into position either from the platform of the car or from the ground.

The construction of my invention is simple and light, but sufficiently strongfor all purposes, positive in its operation, and easily operated by one person.

In the accompanying. drawings, Figure 1- represents a vertical cross section through a car platform and steps with my improvement applied thereto, the extensionstep being raised. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the step lowered. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sec tion through a car-platform, the steps being Fig. 4 is a like view, the extension-step and its'operating mechanism being lowered. Fig-5 is a perspective View of a detail.

A indicates a car-platform, andB the steps on one side thereof, both being of the usual On the rear of the steps B are fixed rails O O in an inclined position, one near each end of said step. At aboutthe center of the steps B and on the rear thereof a plate D-is fastened, to the front side of which a'catch E is pivoted, so that its lower hooked end 6 faces'inwardly and projects normally into a long slot (Z in the plate D.

An adjustable extension-step F is attached to a frame having slide-bars G parallel to and below the rails O. The upper end of each slide-bar carries a roller H, adapted to run on a track 0, its lower end 9 being turned horizontally to support the extension-step F. The slide-bars G are joined near their upper ends by a cross-connection I and held in position on the steps B by brackets J and rollers K, secured to the bottom step. The slide-bars as they are raised and lowered run 'on these rollers.

Lying close against the back of the plate D is a plate L, fastened to the extension-step F and from thence reaching in an upward direction parallel to the plateD and furnished at its upper end with a hook Z, which when the extension-step F is raised engages with the hooked end of the catch E and holds thestep F in elevated position. Attached to the back of the plate L is a bracket or lug L. Through an opening therein a rod M is adapted to slide, said rod extending upwardly through the platform A and has pivoted thereto a ring-handle NH The lower end of the rod M is provided with a nut or other stop an to prevent its withdrawal from the bracket L. The rod M, which may be rotated as well as movedv endwise, carries a cam O in position to act on the catch E when the rod is turned and disengage its hook e from the hook Z on the plate L,

thus permitting the extension-step F to drop to its operative position. The fall is limited by the connection I striking the brackets J.

A plate P, sunk in the floor of the platform A flush with its upper surface, has a depression P formed therein, into which the handle N is folded when the rod M is in normal position.

Journaled on the plate D is a horizontal rod or shaft Q, formed with a crank Q in position to act on the latch E, and an operatinghandle Q on its extreme end outside of the step F, if the position of the parts be as shown in Fig. 1, the handle N is grasped, raised from the depression in the plate P, and partly r0- tated, turning the rod M and cam O, which latter swings the catch E until its hook becomes disengaged from the hook Z on the plate D. The extensi0n-step being unsupported drops to the position represented in Fig. 2. An optional means for lowering the step from the platform is afforded by the footpiece R depressing, which will free the step, the rod M remaining undisturbed. If on the ground, the latch may also be released by turning the crank Q through its handle Q the catch being released without the necessity of rotating the rod. The step is raised by pulling up the rod M until the hookZ is caught by the catch E, or the step itself may be lifted bodily.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Combined with a car platform and steps, a movable frame carrying a step, a latch for holding said frame when raised, and a rod for raising said frame and disconnecting said latch.

2. Combined with a car platform and steps, a movable frame carrying a step, a latch for holding said frame when raised, and a rod having a cam thereon and adapted to perform the double function of raising the frame into engagement with the latch and disconnecting the latch from the frame.

3. Combined with a car platform and steps, a movable frame carrying a step, an u pwardl yextending plate or its equivalent on said step having a hook and a bracket thereon, a latch adapted to engage said hook and hold the frame in elevated position, a rod pivoted in a bracket on said plate and adapted to raise the plate when drawn upwardly, and a cam on said rod to disengage said latch when the rod is rotated.

4:. Combined with a car platform and steps, a movable frame carrying a step, a plate or its equivalent connected to said step and having a hook thereon, a latch adapted to hold said frame in elevated position, a rod adapted to raise frame by a. longitudinal movement, a cam on said rod for disengaging said latch by a rotary movement of said rod, and a horizontal crank-shaft for optionallydisengaging said latch.

5. Combined with a car platform and steps, a movable frame comprising slide-bars, a step and a cross connection, a latch adapted to retain said frame in elevated position, a rod for raising said frame, and a cam operated by said rod for disengaging said latch.

6. Combined with a car platform and steps, a movable frame comprising slide-bars, a step and a cross connection, a. latch adapted to retain said frame in elevated position, a rod passing through the platform for raising said frame, a cranked shaft operated from the' ground to disengage said latch, and means for operating said shaft from the platform.

In testimony whereof l ai'iix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EUCHARISTE SIROIS. \Vitnesses:

C. A. RINGLE, B. H. KEATING. 

